History
The Maine Coon is a native New Englander,
hailing from Maine, where he was a popular mouser, farm cat and, most likely,
ship’s cat, at least as far back as the early 19th century. the Maine Coon is a natural
breed and little is known of his origins. Some say the Vikings brought him to
North America, centuries before Columbus sailed the ocean blue, others that the Maine Coon is the descendant of longhaired cats belonging to Marie Antoinette, sent to
America in advance of the doomed queen, who had hoped to escape there. Sea
captains may have brought back longhaired cats that then mated with local shorthaired
cats. One thing is for sure: the Maine Coon is not the result of a mating
between a cat and a raccoon, even if his brown tabby coat and furry ringed tail
suggest that biological impossibility. The resemblance is, however, how the
cats got their name; in fact, Maine Coons that didn’t have the brown tabby coat
were called Maine Shags.
The first published reference to a
Maine Coon was in 1861, about a black and white cat named Captain Jenks of the
Horse Marines. A female Maine Coon was named Best Cat in 1895 at a cat show
held in Madison Square Garden. In Boston and New York, the home-grown felines
were popular exhibits at cat shows, and when the Cat Fanciers Association was
formed in 1908, the fifth cat registered was a Maine Coon named Molly Bond. But
the invasion of glamourous Persian and exotic Siamese cats from England around
the turn of the century spelled the end of the Maine Coon’s popularity for half
a century. Things took a turn for the better in the 1960s, and the Maine Coon
Breeders and Fanciers Association was formed in 1968. Today the big, beautiful
cats are among the world’s most popular. But what really counts, of course, is
that they are the official state cat of Maine.
Size
This is a large cat. Most Maine Coons weigh 9 to
18 pounds (males are larger), and some tip the scales at 20 or more pounds.
They don't reach their full size until they are three to five years old.
Personality
The good-natured and affable Maine Coon adapts
well to many lifestyles and personalities. He likes being with people and has
the habit of following them around, but he isn’t needy. He’s happy to receive
attention when you direct it his way, but if you’re busy he’s satisfied to just
supervise your doings. Close a door on him and he will wait patiently for you
to realize the error of your ways and let him in. He’s not typically a lap cat,
but he does like to be near you.
He also retains his skill as
a mouser. No rodents will be safe in a home where a Maine Coon resides. Even if
you don’t have any mice for him to chase, he’ll keep his skills sharp by
chasing toys and grabbing them with his big paws. A Maine Coon also enjoys
playing fetch and will retrieve small balls, toys or wadded-up pieces of paper.
He can climb as well as any cat but usually prefers to stay on ground level.
That’s where his work is, after all. He’s also very smart and will happily
learn tricks or play with puzzle toys that challenge his brain.
Maine Coons usually enjoy a
kittenish love of play well into adulthood. Males, especially, are prone to
silly behavior. Females are more dignified, but they aren’t above a good game
of chase. Not especially vocal, they make any requests in a soft chirp or
trill.
Health
Both pedigreed cats and mixed-breed cats have
varying incidences of health problems that may be genetic in nature. Problems
that may affect the Maine Coon include the following:
Hip dysplasia, which in severe
cases can cause lameness
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a form of heart
disease that is inherited in Maine Coons. A DNA-based test is available to
identify cats that carry one of the mutations that causes the disease.
Polycystic kidney disease, a slowly progressive
heritable kidney disease that can result in renal failure.
Spinal muscular atrophy, a genetic
disorder that affects skeletal muscles of the trunk and limbs. A test is
available to identify carriers and affected kittens.
Despite the length of the Maine Coon’s coat, it
has a silky texture that doesn’t mat easily—if you groom it regularly. It is
easily cared for with twice weekly combing to remove dead hair and distribute
skin oils. Useful grooming tools include a stainless steel comb for removing
tangles and what’s called a grooming rake to pull out dead undercoat, which is
what causes tangles when it’s not removed. Use it gently, especially in the
stomach area and on the tail. Maine Coons are patient, but they don’t like
having their hair pulled any more than you do. Check the tail for bits of poop
stuck to the fur and clean it off with a baby wipe. Bathe a Maine Coon as
needed, which can range from every few weeks to every few months. If his coat
feels greasy or his fur looks stringy, he needs a bath.
Brush the teeth to prevent
periodontal disease. Daily dental hygiene is best, but weekly brushing is better
than nothing. Trim the nails every couple of weeks. Wipe the corners of the
eyes with a soft, damp cloth to remove any discharge. Use a separate area of
the cloth for each eye so you don’t run the risk of spreading any infection.
Check the ears weekly. If they look dirty, wipe them out with a cotton ball or
soft damp cloth moistened with a 50-50 mixture of cider vinegar and warm water.
Avoid using cotton swabs, which can damage the interior of the ear.
Keep the Maine Coon’s litter box
spotlessly clean. Cats are very particular about bathroom hygiene, and a clean
litter box will help to keep the coat clean as well.
It’s a good idea to keep a Maine
Coon as an indoor-only cat to protect him from diseases spread by other cats,
attacks by dogs or coyotes, and the other dangers that face cats who go
outdoors, such as being hit by a car. Maine Coons who go outdoors also run the
risk of being stolen by someone who would like to have such a beautiful cat
without paying for it.
Coat Color And Grooming
A Maine Coon is a big, rugged cat with a smooth,
shaggy coat who looks as if he could put in a full day mousing on a farm in all
weather conditions. Indeed, he was built for just such work in the harsh Maine
climate, and his breed standard reflects his heritage, calling for a
medium-size to large cat with a well-proportioned body that is muscular and
broad-chested. A Maine Coon has substantial, medium-length legs and large,
round paws, well tufted with fur, to serve as “snowshoes” during winter.
A heavy coat is shorter on the shoulders, longer
on the stomach and britches (long fur on the upper hind legs), with a ruff in
front and a long, furry tail waving a greeting. A medium-width head is slightly
longer than it is wide and has a squarish muzzle. Large, well-tufted ears are
wide at the base, tapering to a point, and large, expressive eyes are green,
gold, greenish-gold or copper. White or bi-colored Maine Coons may have blue or
odd eyes.
The brown tabby pattern is so common in this
breed that many people don’t know Maine Coons can come in any other colors or
patterns. They might be surprised to learn that Maine Coons are found in solid
colors that include black, red or white, all tabby colors and patterns,
bi-color such as blue and white or red and white, and patterns such as
tortoiseshell and calico. In fact, Maine Coons can be any color or pattern
except pointed (like Siamese) or any colors indicating
Children And Other Pets
The friendly, laidback Maine Coon is a
perfect choice for families with children and cat-friendly dogs. He loves the
attention he receives from children who treat him politely and with respect,
and he doesn’t mind playing dress-up or going for a ride in a baby buggy.
He is happy to live with cat-friendly dogs, too,
thanks to his amiable disposition. Introduce pets slowly and in controlled
circumstances to ensure that they learn to get along together.
